Whether it's l'addition, la cuenta or il conto, it remains a sad fact that most Britons' grasp of foreign languages is limited to the subtleties of settling the bill on holiday. Amazingly, the study of modern languages in the UK continues to decline. French is no longer even in the top 10 GCSE subjects, which is a crying shame because a world of fascinating employment opportunities awaits talented linguists with an eye for adventure, both within these shores and beyond.

What skills have you gained?

You will hopefully have graduated with the ability to read, write, listen to and speak, another language. As a result, communication skills will be your forte, and you should also be adept at working alone along with the customary research and presentation know-how.

As a bonus, any time you may have spent abroad as part of your course will have given you an insight into the culture and workings of another country.

What jobs can you do?

Having gone to such lengths to acquire a foreign language, you may well be looking for a role which allows you to venture overseas to make good use of it, but opportunities also exist at home.

"With the globalisation of industry and commerce, graduates with a good command of modern languages are sought after for numerous roles in a variety of organisations and sectors," says Margaret Holbrough, careers adviser at Graduate Prospects. "However, careers where language skills are the primary focus are those of interpreter (spoken word), translator (written word) and teacher/lecturer, specifically in secondary education or above, and teaching English as a second language in the UK or abroad."

Alternative career options include the travel industry, working overseas or in the UK, retail buying, logistics and distribution, where goods or equipment are moved across international borders. "The government's diplomatic service is often a target for modern languages graduates, but is highly competitive," Holbrough says.

Famous languages graduates include marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and TV broadcaster and journalist Sue Lawley. Author John le Carré also holds a degree in languages.